Production of machine-set type composition



May 23, 1939. w w 2,159,492

PRODUCTION OF MACHINE-SET TYPE COMPOSITION Filed July 23, 1937 2Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY May 23, 1939. w. WIGG PRODUCTION OF MAHINE-SETTYPE COMPOSITION Filed July 25, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /A/VE/V7'0/:William Wi gg, ym

Patented May 23, 1939 UNITED l STATES PRODUCTION OF MACHINE-SET TYPE00M- POSITION William Wigg, North Finchley, London, England,

assignor to Lanston Monoty-pe Machine Company, Philadelphia, Pa., acorporation of Vir- .ginia Application July 23, 1937, Serial No. 155,202In Great Britain November 25', .1936

6 Claims.

This invention relates to the production of machine-set type-compositionon record-stripcontrolled type-casting and composing machines, whichproduce justified lines of single types and has for its chief object toprovidea method of and mechanism for producing in such machines smallsize and close-set composition in a moreeflicient, expeditious andeconomical manner than hitherto. Withsuch systems" and machines, arecordstrip" is first prepared in a composing machine wherein punchesor'perforators are actuated from a'keyboard to produce in a paper orother recordstrip or controller, perforations or combinations ofperforations, which control, in an automatic single-type casting andcomposing machine, certain operations, such as the dimensioning of amould, the positioning of a die case, or matrix carrier, a metalinjecting pump and other mechanisms or devices on the machine.

In the method generally employed in such 'ma' chines, the keys of therecord-strip composing machine are so connected with the perforators orpunches, that certain signals represent characters, numerals, or likesymbols of definite di mensions, others represent blanks or spaces offixed dimensions, and others blanks or spaces of varying or variabledimensions. The bodies pro duced in the casting machine under theinstrumentality of the perforations in the record-strip which representcharacter types, or blank types or spaces of fixed dimensions, aregenerally referred to as type bodies and the bodies produced byperforations representing blank bodies of variable dimensions, are knownas justification spaces.

Each complete signal in the record-strip denotes, or produces asepa-ratecast in the mould of the casting machine. The type bodies are each castin definite dimensions according to their fixed unit-value or width. Thejustification spaces are cast as separate bodies of a predeterminedbasic width varied by a fraction of a width for each justification spbody to justify a composed line.

Theoretically the width of a justification space, which is the spacebetween words in a composed line, may be of any desired dimension, butin practice it is subject to certain limitations.

When it is desired to produce normally composition in comparativelysmall type, or withclose-setting, it often occurs that'the minimumavailable justification space for a line is too wide and leaves anundesirable amount of blank space between the words.

1 According to the methodand means of the present invention, therecord-strip is prepared so that the use of signals for the casting ofseparate justification spaces is avoided, by adding to the signalrepresenting the first character or letter of each word except,obviously, the first word of a line, a signal controlling ajustification transfer mechanism in the casting machine, so that afraction of the total space to be absorbed by justification. is added toand cast on one side of the body of such initial type, which isincreased width-wise by this fraction.

By thus adding the justification fraction to the character or letterbeginning each word, and eliminating the use of separate justificatidnspaces not only can composition of the nature already referred to beproduced in a highly satisfactory manner with properly proportionedspaces between words, but the speed of production of the casting machineis materially in-' creased. Further, the total space occupied by a pieceof set matter is considerably less than hitherto. Each type body andeach jus'tification' space produced or cast, represents a completerevolution or cycle of operations of the casting machine and byeliminating the use of separate justificatio'n spaces and using thejustification fractions as spaces and as part of particular type bodiesit has been proved that a saving of from 16' per cent to 20 per cent inthe revolutions of the casting machine can be effected in a given pieceof composition. It follows that there is a' corresponding saving of timein production. Also the amount of paper required for a record-strip isgreatly reduced.

In the normal key-controlled record-strip composing machine, a fulldescription of which is to be found, for example, in United StatesLetters- Patent No. 944,405 dated December 28, 1909, the operation-ofany key, not only produces the necessary signal for a type or ajustification space, but also efifects the recording of the unit valueof the signal, and the step-"byestep advance of the record-strip throughthe machine. In the casting and composing machine, an example of whichis to be found in United States Letters Patent No. 625,998 dated May 30,1899, the mold is furnished with a mold-dimensioning blade or member,which is positioned against a variable stop or gauge for each body cast.The gauge of stop for this molddimensioning blade both for type bodiesand justification spaces is controlled by perforations or signals in therecord-strip.

For casting type-bodies in the normal manner the mold-blade stop orgauge comprises a normal wedge, a type transfer wedge and a stationaryabutment.

For casting variable space-bodies in the normal manner,- the stop forthe mold blade comprises the normal wedge, two justification wedges, ajustification transfer wedge and a stationary abutment.

The two justification wedges are positioned prior to :the casting of anybody in a particular lineof composition and are brought into or put outof operation by the movements of the type transfer and the justificationtransfer wedges.

In accordance with the method of the present invention, a single signalor perforation controlling the justification transfer wedge, is madeseparately but alongside of the perforations or signal for the firstletter or character of each word of the line of composition so that thiscomposition or combined signal, when presented in the casting machine,controls the dimensioning of the mold for such characters by means ofthe normal wedge, set to the fixed width of the character, thejustification transfer wedge and the two justification wedges. Thus thecast produced as a single body is of the fixed set width of thecharacter, plus the predetermined fraction of justification. Thisfraction of the justification serves as an interword space and takes theplace of a separate justification space used in normal setting orcomposition.

The mechanism or device of the present invention is chiefly intended tobe embodied in a key-controlled record-strip preparing or composingmachine such as already referred to, and is so contrived that themachine at will, can be employed for producing a record-strip for thespecial composition to which the invention refers, or a record-strip fornormal composition.

In accordance with the present invention the punch for producingaforesaid justification transfer signal and generally known as the S-punch, is operated by a key on the keyboard and is divorced from thepaper feed, and the units measuring mechanism.

This justification transfer punch is furnished with an adjustable ormovable lug, which, when placed out of operative position allows thetransfer punch, to perforate the record-strip without recording any unitvalue, but when in its operative position and operated by the normaljustification space-key, acts to produce in the recordstrip, a signalfor a normal justification space, and also operates the paper feed andunits measuring devices of the record-strip perforating machine.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective diagrammatic view of a portion of a keyboardcomposing machine of known construction in which the invention isembodied.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of part of the same machine, showing themechanism or device according to the present invention in position forproducing small or close set composition.

Fig. 3 is another side elevation of said mechanism or device in positionfor normal composition and Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the deviceshown in Fig. 3.

The invention will now be described as embodied in a record-stripcomposing machine as fully described in Letters Patent 944,405previously referred to for preparing a controller or record-strip for asingle-type casting and composing machine as described in Letters Patent625,998 previously referred to.

In this record-strip composing machine A is a justification space key, Ais a punch bar, actuated from the key A and carries a justification or Spunch, B indicates one of a series of type keys. These keys, A and B,according to a permutation system, act on longitudinally movablekey-bars C which are furnished with lugs C to engage transverse rockingbars D, which in rocking engage lugs E on members of a series oflongitudinally movable valve bars E. Valves F, operated by the bars E,control the admission of air to pistons G, which in turn act uponpivoted arms H in which the lower ends of the punch bars are mounted.The punches, when raised, pass through a guide Z over which is passedthe record-strip to be perforated.

Hitherto, for normal composition the justification space key A has alsoacted through the permutation system C, D and E to operate this S-punch, together with a punch or punches of the series I.

In general, each type body and each justification space body isrepresented in the recordstrip by two perforations. One component ofeach signal denotes matrix position and the other, in addition todenoting matrix position, also controls the dimensioning of the mold forthe designated matrix, the recording of the unit value of such matrixand the step-by-step feed of the record-strip.

Each punch bar I, as hitherto constructed, has been furnished with ashoulder I which, when a punch bar was raised, by the admission of airto the piston G, raised a rocking bar J, which is connected by arms J toa shaft J This bar J in rising, operates an arm J on the shaft J andthrough a link J operated a pivoted lever J which acts on a lever arm J6 of the line-measuring and unit-registering mechanism J Several punchbars, each of which forms a signal-component, are also furnished with arecess I in which rests one end of a lever J which through a link Jinterposes, when the punch bar is raised, a stop J in the path of theunits measuring mechanism.

The shaft J in turning, operated the paper feed mechanism through alever J The justification space key A, in the normal machine isfurnished with three adjustable lugs A A A For ordinary composition thelugs A and .A are in operation to produce the justification space signaland act to operate at least two punches, viz., the S-punch incombination with a punch of the series I the perforations in which bothcontrol in the casting machines the matrixposition, one of them molddimensions, and the other, the operation of the justification transferwedge. In addition, the operation of these punch bars controls the unitsmeasuring and paper feed, as already stated.

In accordance with the present invention, the bar A of the S-punch isfurnished with an adjustable lever or latch A which is pivoted at a tothe punch bar, and at its lower end carries a lug A Two small openings(1. a are conveniently provided in the lever A and a spring-pressed ballor the like a is mounted in the punch bar to engage one or other ofthese openings to retain the lever A against accidental movement.

When small or close set composition is to be produced, this lever A isplaced in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In this position the lugA is moved from under the rocking bar J so that when the bar A of theS-punch is raised by the tapping of the justification space key A, itwill rise without operating the bar J. This 7 results in therecord-strip being perforated without any unit value of the signal beingrecorded and without the paper being fed forward.

For this style of composition also, the two normally acting lugs A and Aon the space key A are turned up out of the path of the lugs on the barsC, and the lug A on the key A is turned down into operative position(see Figs. 1 and 2). In this position, the lug A is in the path of a lugC on the bar CS of the series C, so that when the key A is tapped thebar CS is moved and a lug C rocks a bar D8 of the series D, and this barengaged a lug E on a valve bar ES of the series E. The valve bar ESoperates a valve FS of the series F which controls the piston GS, whichactuates the S-punch.

The operator next taps a key of the series B to perforate the signal inthe record-strip representing the initial character of a word, and therecord-strip feed, not having been operated by the actuation of theS-punch bar, the character signal is formed alongside the S-signal thusforming the combined signal, which when presented on the castingmachine, will cause the predetermined fraction of justification to becast in one with and on one side of the character type. The operatorthen proceeds to tap the necessary keys B to produce the signals for theother letters in a word, as in normal composition and for the initialcharacter in each word in the line, acts as above stated to produce anS- signal alongside each initial signal.

When normal composition is desired on a composing machine embodying thepresent invention, the operator moves the lever A on the punch bar Ainto the position shown in Fig. 3. In this position the lug A on thelever A is under the rocking bar J. He also moves the lug A on the key Aout of operation and moves the normal lugs A and A into operativeposition. With this setting, when the justification key is operated, thelugs A and A operate key-bars of the series C and these, through lugsthereon, actuate members of the rocking bar series D, which in turnoperate the desired combination of valve bars E to produce the normaljustification signal and effect also movement of the line-measuringmechanism to record a unit value of the signal and operate the paperfeed mechanism.

I claim:

1. In a typographic composing machine for preparing a record-strip for asingle-type casting and composing machine, the combination with theS-punch or punch for the signal controlling the justification transferdevice in the casting machine, of alever adjustably mounted on the barof the S-punch and a lug on the lever adapted in one position tooverride or avoid a rocking bar controlling the units measuring andpaper feed devices of the composing machine and adapted inanother'position to engage and operate said bar, substantially as andfor the purpose described.

2. In a typographic composing machine for preparing a record-strip for asingle-type casting and composing machine, the combination with anS-punch furnished with an adjustable levercarrying a lug adapted in oneposition to engage and operate a rocking bar and in another position tooverride or avoid such bar, of a key furnished with adjustable lugs oneof which when in operative position effects through a permutation systemthe operation of the S-punch alone.

3. A typographic composing machine for preparing record-strips forsingle-type casting and composing machines, comprising character keysand perforating punches operatively connected together, a justifyingspace key and its punch, a

units measuring mechanism, means for feeding the record-strip when acharacter key is struck and means connecting the space key and its punchto cause operation of the latter and arrest operation of therecord-strip feeding means, whereby the operation of the space keyimmediately followed by the operation of a key representing the initialcharacter of a word, will produce a combined signal in the form of sideby side perforations in the record strip, such signal signifying thecasting of the justification space fractions on one side of and as partof each initial character of the Words in a composed line.

4. A method of type composition in a record strip for controlling asingle type casting and composing machine which consists in producingcharacter signals successively in longitudinally adjacent areas of therecord strip and feeding the strip after each character signal isproduced, and for each word space producing a space signal and arrestingthe feeding of the strip thereafter, whereby the space signal isproduced in the same area of the record strip in which the charactersignal following the word space is produced, the combination signal thusproduced in one area of strip affecting and saving in total length ofstrip to the extent of one area of strip for each word space in anygiven composition, such combination signal indicating that equalfractions of justification are to be cast on one side of each spacefollowing character.

5. A method of composing printed matter in justified lines in a recordstrip for controlling single type casting and composing machines whichconsists in producing record strip signals for the character types thatare to compose the line, moving the record strip intermittently asuitable increment after each character signal is produced in order topresent a new area for a subsequent signal, producing a space signal foreach space in the line and arresting the movement of the record stripafter such space signal to thus produce a combined space-and-charactersignal for each word space and character that follows such space andfinally, at the end of the line, producing a justification signalrepresenting the justification fraction to be added to each word space,whereby the combined signal for each space and the initial characterafter each space indicates such character varied by the addition of thejustification fraction.

6. A typographic composing machine for the composition of printed matterin justified lines, in which a record strip is employed for controllinga single type casting and composing machine, comprising means forperforating the record strip upon the striking of character keys, meansfor feeding the record strip automatically upon the release of each ofsaid keys in order to place the record strip in position to receive thenext signal, means for perforating the record strip upon striking aspace key for producing a justification space signal in the record stripbetween words of composition, means controlled by said space key forarresting the record strip feed upon the release of said key, wherebythe feeding of the record strip follows each key struck except the spacekey and a combined space-and-character signal in the record strip isproduced by striking the space key and then the immediately followingcharacter key.

WILLIAM WIGG.

